For some Iranians in Korea, Khamenei's death brings relief and an occasion to celebrate

Iranians living in Korea gathered in Seoul on Sunday to celebrate the death of Iran’s supreme leader, saying his passing could end what they described as decades of repression and allow many of them to return home for the first time in years.

Iranian students Niusha Shariloo, left, and Kiana, speak during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, on March 1. [OH SAM-GWON]

Iranians living in Korea gathered in Seoul on Sunday to celebrate the death of Iran’s supreme leader, saying his passing could end what they described as decades of repression and allow many of them to return home for the first time in years.

In fact, the reaction among many Iranians overseas has been one of relief, according to Zangeneh Arman, a resident in Korea.

“Many Iranians are happy at the prospect that the 47-year dictatorship may finally come to an end,” he said. “For years, the government sent anyone who opposed it to prison without mercy and carried out purges at will. People felt powerless and trapped in misery. Now there is hope that things could change.”

Arman, who runs an auto parts business in Seoul’s eastern Dongdaemun District, came to Korea 27 years ago for work. He reminisced about the days when Iran once stood as "a serious competitor in the auto industry" — but failed to grow.

Smoke plumes rise following missile strikes in Tehran on March 1. [AFP/YONHAP]

“Fifty or sixty years ago, Iran’s economy was strong enough to compete with Japan in auto parts,” he said. “Everything has stalled since [the dictatorship began]. While Korea and China produce millions of high-tech vehicles, we still make cars that are the same as those from 50 years ago.”

“The country is not just standing still — it keeps moving backward,” he continued. “Watching that has made many Iranians angry. I hope the country can finally become a better place to live.”

For some, such as Niusha Shariloo, the moment carried even greater personal significance.

Shariloo has not returned to Iran for four years. After graduating from Islamic Azad University’s medical school, she moved to Korea in 2020 to study at the National Canter center Graduate School of Cancer Science and Poilcy at the National Cancer Center. She joined protests in Korea in 2022 against Iran’s mandatory hijab rules and has since avoided traveling home out of fear of arrest by the Islamic religious police force known as Gasht-e Ershad.

People hold portraits of Mahsa Amini during a protest against the Iranian regime in Berlin on Oct. 22, 2022, following the death of Amini in the custody of the country's ″morality police″ on Sept. 16 after her arrest three days prior for allegedly violating its strictly-enforced dress code. [AP/YONHAP]

Shariloo was taking part in a protest condemning the Iranian government when she heard about the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“When I first heard about the airstrike on Khamenei, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “As videos started to come out one by one, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I was so happy that for two hours I cried and laughed."

“The war is not over yet, but today I just want to enjoy this feeling,” she continued. “The government says the whole country is mourning Khamenei for 40 days, but in reality, almost all Iranians are celebrating.”

Iran’s state media confirmed on Sunday that Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation that began on Saturday and announced a 40-day period of mourning for the 86-year-old ayatollah, who had ruled Iran for more than 36 years.

Mourners hold pictures of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following his death, at Enqelab Square in Tehran on March 1. [EPA/YONHAP]

Some remain anxious about family members still in Iran.

Kiana, a science student who asked to be identified by only one name, said staying in touch with family can be difficult during periods of unrest.

“When protests break out or airstrikes happen, the internet is immediately cut off,” she said. “We have to find someone — whether we know them or not — in an area where the internet still works and pass messages through several people just to confirm our families are safe.”

“My parents always say they’re fine, but I know they say that because they don’t want me to worry,” she added. “I hope the day comes soon when we don’t have to live with this kind of fear.”

Damage at Evin Prison is pictured after Israeli airstrikes, in Tehran on July 1, 2025. Iran's judiciary stated that at least 71 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Evin Prison, which occurred on June 23, 2025. [EPA/YONHAP]

Shamsnamini Hanieh said memories of an Israeli airstrike on Iran in June of last year still weigh heavily on her. After marrying a Korean, she gave birth in Iran in March and was planning to return to Korea when the strikes began.

“In the early hours of June 13, I was looking for baby supplies when I heard what sounded like thunder,” she said. “At first I thought it was lightning, then a gas explosion. After the third blast, I realized that airstrikes had begun.”

Her husband, Heo Jeong-ho, had been due to arrive in Iran the next day but became stranded in Turkey. With assistance from the Korean Embassy, Hanieh crossed the border by land with her infant while her parents chose to remain.

“Leaving them behind has remained a trauma,” she said.

Heo said their child, born last year, recently turned 1 year old.

“I hope I can soon hold my wife and child’s hands and visit my father-in-law and mother-in-law in Iran,” he said.

Iranians living in Korea gather at a location in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, to celebrate the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on March 1. [OH SAM-GWON]

On Sunday night, about 80 Iranians gathered at a bar in Seoul’s eastern Seongdong District to mark Khamenei’s death. When the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” (1978) played, the crowd sang along and celebrated until midnight.

“I came to celebrate the death of a dictator,” one attendee said. “There has been so much sadness, but just for today, I want to forget it all and enjoy myself.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. BY OH SAM-GWON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]